Crystal River current., 1887-06-04
SWEPT WHERNlTY
MIR. and Yts. johnson Loose Theil
Two Little Daughters in the
/ Rapids of Crystal River.
Narrow Escape Of the Mother and 9th
ers-An Interesting Letter From
GOthic-LOcal JOttings.
Lost in the River.

Lost in the River.
Last Sunday afternoon sad
drowning accident occurred down
the river whereby Mr.. and Mrs
ANDY johnson lost their two dear
little children, Edna, about three
years, and the babe, about seven
months old, While crossing the riv-
er at an old ford just below Mr..
Melton's house.
In the morning Mr. johnson
made a trip up to Mr. Melton's for
q wagon with 20 young team OF
horses, and crossed the stream In
safety going from and returning to
Prospect; and after dinner he pro-
posed that Mrs. johnson, the chill
dren and Miss Belle Livingston go
with him for a short visit to their
neighbours, Mrs, Robinson, which
they concluded to do, and they
crossed the stream in safety for a
third time.
After a short visit they returned
as far as Mr.. Meltons where Mr..
Hodges joined them. They started
for home and noticed the stream
had risen considerably, but not
enough to make it appear danger
ously, and they ventured across.
Reaching the opposite shore the
wagon struck the bank and the
horses backing, the wagon was
swept down stream into deeper
water, and commenced to turn over,
when Mr.. Hodges made an effort
to hold it down by standing on the
upper side. The current being SO
strong the wagon turned over, and
all were plunged into the rapid
stream which swept them down into
deeper water. The parents hold
ing on to the two children and Mr..
johnson endeavouring to push his
wife and Miss Livingston towards
the bank; but the current being SO
strong it swept them down stream
at a rapid rate and both lost their
hold on the children, when Mrs.
johnson CHANGED to grasp bunch
of willows completely exhausted,
and just as Miss Livingston was
going out of sight Mr.. johnson see
ing her hair floating and making a
grasp caught her and managed to
get her to shore with the assistance
of Mr.. Hodges, who had just landed
some distance below and ran to the
rescue of the others. They then
found Mrs. johnson in her perilous
position and rescued her. A few
seconds more and she would have
met with the same fate as the chill
dren who were by this time swept
down stream, never to be seen alive
again.
Mrs. Hodges and Mrs. Phillips
had come down to see them cross
the river and witnessed the terrible
accident, and at one time thought
all would meet with the same fate
as the little ones.
Word was Immediately sent to
the neighbours and search was
made along the river as far down as
the Hot Springs, and on Monday
the babe was found in some drift
wood a short distance below the
ford. She was buried last Tues.
day. It is doubtful if the body Of
Edna can be found until the waite,
goes down.
It is fortunate indeed that the
others escaped a watery grave
The horses were swept down stream
and drowned.
A gloom was cast over the entire
community who deeply sympathize
with Mr.. and Mrs. johnson in theil
affection, loosing their only chill
dren. which makes it sad indeed.
"And they, who with their leader
Have conquerd in the fight;
Forever and forever
Are clad in robes Of white"
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